The stand isn’t groaning with music as it often can during the symphony season, but there’s stuff still there awaiting my attention. Here’s what’s on the docket for July.
- Scales, Arpeggios, and Double Stops – Michael Kimber. A great all-around basic daily practice reference.
- 16 Fantasy Etudes – Lilian Fuchs. Brilliantly designed etudes for the 20th-21st century violist, most of which actually sound like pieces of music.
- Six Suites for Unaccompanied Cello/Viola – J.S. Bach. Not much needs to be said about these.
- Sonatas and Partitas for Unaccompanied Violin/Viola – J.S. Bach. Not all of these work well on the viola, but they do scratch an itch that the cello suites don’t quite manage sometimes.
- Requiem – Giuseppe Verdi. Monumental and operatic religious work that is always a pleasure to perform. For the Oregon Bach Festival.
- Piano Quintet – John Harbison. A lovely work from 1981 that I’m hearing and working on for the first time, for the Methow Valley Chamber Music Festival.
- Piano Quartet in E-flat major – Robert Schumann. One of my favorite chamber pieces, also for Methow.
- Piano Quartet No. 2 in E-flat major – Antonin Dvorak. A piece I’ve never worked on, but heard quite a few times. Looking forward to it as well. Also for Methow.
I’m awaiting music for the Sunriver Festival, which is all orchestral, and serves as a nice introduction back to the Oregon Symphony’s season, which this year will once again open with the free Waterfront Concert at Tom McCall Waterfront Park on August 28th.